Bell buoy



March 29, 1932. G. HOFFMEIER BELL BUOY Filed Sept. ll, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l ?ISLL. f 0

INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 29, 1.932. G. HOFFMEIR BELL BUOY Filed Sept. 1l, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u 6 f @ff f1 Gatta@ Z1/5mg@ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 19,32*y

GOTTLIEB yHOFFMEIER, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T CAPTAIN CHARLES LUDLAM, OF IIINNSGrItOVlYL,`

LAM, 0F .BELLEFONTE DELAWARE BELLI BUOY' Application mea september 11, 1931. vserial No. 562,343.

This invention relates to an improved bell buoy, adapted for usein tide water, mid

stream, particularly in foggy weather, the

aim being to give warning as to danger to vessels or boats.

In' the present of a warning signalmay be accomplished by light from ank electric lamp or by sound from a bell, or from both.

It is the purpose of the present invention to improve and render more prac-tical the construction and operation of the bell buoy, set forth, illustrated and claimed in the U. S. Letters Patent to Gottlieb Hoffmeier, issued March 3, 1931, Patent Number 1,795,255.

In this patent the warning signal is transmitted by a light derived from acetylene or other gas, whereas in the present invention kit is the aim to utilize electrical source for generating a warning signal light. v

Also in said patent above'identified the airtightoat (which is cylindrical) is supported in an upright position by means of a balancing depending gravity member, whereas it is the aim in the present invention to utilize airtight floating pontoons, which are so spaced apart relative to each other as to provide a sluice-way'or channel for the passage of the water, in order to impart motion to the paddle wheel, there beingy asuitable mesh work guard at the forward portion of the sluiceway connected to the pontoons-to prevent trash and foreign matter lfrom passing'therethrough and becoming entangled with the wheel. p

Another purpose isto provide, in a bell buoy means such as motor generators mounted in containers and operated through. the medium of the paddle wheel for generating electrical current for lightinga warning'sig'- nal lamp mounted upon a frame supported uponthe pontoons.

Afurther purpose is to provide gear connections between the paddle wheel and the motor generators, so as to impart movement thereto,'the construction and arrangement of said gear connections lbeing such that will transmit vconsiderable power andl speed to the motor generators,l sufficient lto generate invention the transmission of any suitable electrical energy substantially for a long period.

A still further purpose is to provide an NEWy JERSEY, `AND lnam; A.` LUD- i audible warning signal such as a bell, in combination with a clapper operated yby the paddler wheel, for sounding the bell vals, thereby transmitting a warning signal to vessels or boats as to danger.

A still further purpose 1s to provide an imf proved mounting for the clapper, including means such as will guard the clapper mecha` nism against weather conditions, said clap'- per mechanism also including tensioning means for returning the clapper to its initial position, subsequently to being actuated by the lpaddle wheel.

It is to herein given are in no way limitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the constructionk of the appliance according to circumstances. Y

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a view in side elevation of the Y improved bell buoy constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 1s a view in rear elevation more clearly showing the two pontoons, as well as illustrating the means for mounting of the` bell clapper, said means to be actuated by the paddle wheel. I

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the mounting for they bell clapper.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5,-'5 of Figure 2. Y

Referring to the drawings l identifies two pontoons which may be any length or of any be understood that the particulars l i at lnterdiameter and of any shape or contour, preferably as illustrated and may be constructed metal. The pontoons are arranged in spaced relation, thereby causing to be formed a sluice-way 2. The pontoons are heldrelatively spaced by means of the rods or braces 3, and supported on the pontoons are platforms 4 having railings 5.

Y encies. v

. bridge the forward portion prisescentralcircular plates. 12 provided.L

With radial spokes 13, which are connected t0 the large rings 14. Connecting certain of the spokes 13 and also arranged between the spokes and carried bythe central circular plates-12 and the rings 14 are paddles 15, with Whichthe Waterk passing through the; sluice- Way impinges for imparting motion to the Wheel. On opposite sides of the paddle Wheel suitable gears 16a-re mounted Which are in meshing engagement with gears 17 on the shafts` 18 of the motor generator 7, thereby imparting power to the generators for de veloping electrical energy. for lighting the Warning signal lamps 8. Suitable leads or ,Wires 19 connect the motor generators and thewarning signal lamp 8, for the purpose of transmitting current to the latter.`

Supported at 2O and 21 on the forward portions of the pontoons and disposed to of the sluice-Way, and to extend to the lowest pointof the paddle Wheel is a mesh` or screen guard 22Which serves the purposeof guarding against trash, refuse or other foreign matter from passing .through the sluice-Way and becoming entangled With the paddle Wheel. The fact is the lovverportion of the mesh or screen guard merges under and in conformity tothe Contour of the Wheel, thereby preventing the trash or refuse from being drawn up` behind the guard.

Suitable eyes 23 are provided on the pontoons,` to which cablesor chainsmay beattached for the `purpose. of towing the bell `from one location to another. Also carried` by the lower porti ons of the ,pontoons are eyes 24, towhich chains 25 may be connected, `said chains 25 merging `into a single chain 26, to, thelovver end of Which an anchor 27 may de. lpend, for anchoring the bell buoy in mid stream. K i Rising'Y from the pontoons and fastened thereto byanchorbolts 28 adjacent, the platforms 4 are the converging beams 29 of the .u

frame 30. This frame may. be. any height proportioned relative to the size of the pontoons and include transverse braces 31, the

beams of the framebeing in the form of angle J irons, which support a circular plateY or platform 32 at the upper end ofthe frame. This platform or plate 32V supports a prismatic housing33,vvhich has sides 34 `of transpar- Vof the the paddle Wheel and .operatively connected With the motorL generators for` operating the Mounted in afsocket .of the housing -4 33 is a highv candle power signal lamp. 8, to

Which the Wires or leads 19 are connected, for furnishing current to the lamp.

A suitable hanger 35 supports an audible signal in the forni of a bell 36, and mounted in bearings of the frame 30 is aushaft 37. supporting a sleeve 38. This sleeve carries a bell clapper 39, and is under tension of a spring 40, which surrounds the shaft 37, with one endlattachedat 41- tothe shaft.-` and its otherA end` attached at 42 tothe sleeve, for returning the sleeve `to its. Anormali position. An arm 43 is carried by the other end portion of the sleeve, said arm depending in a position onthe side of the paddle Wheel and in the path of a multiple of lateral pins or lugs44 carried by the side o f'thewheel, so that vwhen the paddle arm 43,

From the foregoing the Aconstruction 1 and t operation of the improved bell b uoy is clearly obvious.

The invention lhaving beenset forth, ,Whats isclaimedis: Y

l. Abell buoyl comprisiI-igfloatingl pontoons, therefore having av sluiceeway Y therebetweenfor the passagefof Water'therethrough, a paddlewheel operatively. journaled in said sluice-.Wayand includingashaft, a frame rising fromA said pontoonsand supf porting i visible .Warning lelectrical signal tricalconductors connected. to. the signal lamp, `bearings on the housings .for the. shaft paddle Wheel, and means carriedby latter forgenerating electrical Current to be transmitted to thesignal lamp. i

2.V A bell jbuoy comprising floating. spaced pontoons, therefore havingr a sluiee-way therebetween for the passage of lWater there-l through, a paddle Wheel operatively jour`V naled in saidV sluice-Wayand `including* a shaft, a frame rising supporting a visible Warning-electrical Asig-V Wheel rotates theI lugsA orl pins 44 will contact Withhedependin i rand thereby. rock thesleeve 3,8: onV the shaft 37 against the actionfpf;thenspring,`

Asuitablestop or` abut-f,`

against.

purpose o f protecting such,V

spaced f from-'saidpontoons and 11,9. lamp,@housingsl on said pontoons having motor generators thereinprovided ,with elec4 nal lamp, housings on `said pontoons having motor generatorstherein provided Withpelectrical 1 conductors connected;- to; the signal. `1 lamp, ,bearings onf the housings for theshaft of the paddle wheel, and means carried by the paddle wheel and operatively connected with the motor generators for operating the latter for generating electrical current to be transmitted to the signal lamp, an audible signal carried by the frame consisting of a bell and a clapper, the latter comprising a supporting shaft, a sleeve rockable thereon and carrying the clapper, abutment means for the clapper to limit the same in its initial position, tensioning means for the sleeve to return the clapper to its initial position, an arm depending from the sleeve and having a loosely mounted section to be engaged by an element on the paddle wheel when the latter moves in one direction for actuating the sleeve and the clapper and to move idly past said element should the wheel rotate in the opposite direction.

3. In a bell buoy, a pair of pontoons having means for holding ythem'rigidlyspaced apart for causing a runway 'to be formed therebetween, a frame rising from the pontoons and carrying avisible warning electric signal lamp, a pair of housingsy supported on the pontoons and having electric motor generators therein, `said generators having electrical conductors connected to the lamp for furnishing electrical current thereto, a rotating actuator located in the runway and journaled in bearings of the housing, means associated with the motor generators and in turn actuated by the rotating actuator.

4. In a bell buoy, a pair of pontoons having means for holding them rigidly spaced apart for causing a runway to be formed therebetween, a frame rising from the pontoons and carrying a visible warning electric signal lamp, a pair of housings supported on the pontoons and having electric motor generators therein, said generators having electrical conductors connected to the lamp for furnishing electrical current thereto, a rotating actuator located in the runway and journaled in bearings of the housing, means associated with `the motor generators and in turn actuated by the krotating actuator, and a trash guard carried by the forward ends of the pontoonsy and located across the forward end of therunway, to guard against refuse entering the runway andl entangling with the rotating actuator.

5. In a bell buoy, a pair of pontoons having means for holdingthem rigidly spaced apart for causing a runway to be formed therebetween, a frame rising from the pontoons and carrying a visible warning electric signal lamp, a pair of housings supported on the pontoons and having electric motor generators therein, said generators having electrical conductors connected to the lamp for furnishing electrical current thereto, a lrotating actuator located in the runway and journaled in bearings of the housing, means associated with the motor generators and in turn actuated by the rotating actuator, an audible warning signal carried by the frame comprising a depending bell, a clapper for said bell, said clapper consisting of a shaft and a roc-hable sleeve thereon, the latter carrying the clapper and having a depending arm operative in the path of elements of the actuator for in turn rocking the sleeve and operating the clapper,

limiting means for the sleeve, tensloning means for the sleeve to return the sleeve in cooperation with the limiting means, a housing for the shaft and sleeve, said dependingarm having means to idly pass by the elements on the actuator when the latter moves in the reverse direction.

6. In a bell buoy, a pair of pontoons having means for holding them rigidly spaced apartl for causing a runway to be formed therebetween, a frame rising from the pontoons and carrying a visible warning electric signal lamp, a pair of housings supported on the pontoons andhaving electric motor generators therein, said generators having electrical conductors connected to the lamp for furnishing electricalcurrent thereto, a rotating actuator located in the runway and journaled in bearings of the housing, means associated with the motor generators and in turn actuated by the rotating act-uator, an audible warning signal carried by the frame comprising a depending bell, a clapper for said bell, said clapper consistingof a shaft and a rockable sleeve thereon, the latter carrying the clapper and having a depending arm operative in the path of elements of the actuator for in turn rocking the sleeve and operating the clapper, limiting means for the sleeve, tensioning means for the sleeve to return the sleeve in cooperation with the limiting means, a housing for the shaft and sleeve, said depending arm Y having means to idly pass by the elements on the actuator when the latter moves in the reverse direction, and a trash guard carried e by the forward ends of the pontoons and located across the forward end of the runway, to guard against refuse entering the runway and entangling with the rotating actuator.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

GOTTLIEB HGFFMEIER. 

